Author: gurrumichu

Hello! I write about coding, homesteading, and life tidbits -- topics we'd converse about if we were in a cafe. I enjoy learning new languages and making the most out of where I am. Thanks for reading!

To cluck or not to cluck

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I’ve been coding! Like the slow erosion of a river forming a canyon, I am steadily pecking away at Python to become a better programmer. Here is a lil project I did today. Why chickens? I’ll explain in a future post. Stay tuned! Bok bok bok!

# Magic 8 Ball - Ask a question, reveal an answer.

import random

name = "Heeju"

question = "Should I get hens this weekend?"

answer = ""
answer_2 = ""

# First question random answer generation
random_number = random.randint(1,10)

if random_number == 1:
  answer = "Yes - definitely."
elif random_number == 2:
  answer = "It is decidedly so."
elif random_number == 3:
  answer = "Without a doubt."
elif random_number == 4:
  answer = "Reply hazy, try again."
elif random_number == 5:
  answer = "Ask again later."
elif random_number == 6:
  answer = "Better not to tell you now."
elif random_number == 7:
  answer = "My sources say no."
elif random_number == 8:
  answer = "Outlook not so good."
elif random_number == 9:
  answer = "Very doubtful."
elif random_number == 10:
  answer = "Don't rush it. Give it some time."
else:
  answer = "Error (number outside of range)"

# Second question random answer generation

random_number_2 = random.randint(1,9)
if random_number_2 == 1:
  answer_2 = "Yes - definitely."
elif random_number_2 == 2:
  answer_2 = "It is decidedly so."
elif random_number_2 == 3:
  answer_2 = "Without a doubt."
elif random_number_2 == 4:
  answer_2 = "Reply hazy, try again."
elif random_number_2 == 5:
  answer_2 = "Ask again later."
elif random_number_2 == 6:
  answer_2 = "Better not to tell you now."
elif random_number_2 == 7:
  answer_2 = "My sources say no."
elif random_number_2 == 8:
  answer_2 = "Outlook not so good."
elif random_number_2 == 9:
  answer_2 = "Very doubtful."
else:
  answer_2 = "Error (number outside of range)"


if question == "":
  print("You didn't ask a question. Please ask one!")
elif name == "":
  print(question)
elif name != "":
  print(name,"asks:", question)
else:
  print(name,"asks:", question)


print("Magic 8-ball's answer:", answer)

print("Is this truly random?", answer_2)

The great reveal:

The Gift of Litigation

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With the shipping fiasco and all, it may be hard to get your hands on hard goods. Wouldn’t it be nice to get something made in the good ol’ USA? Well, the United States is by and large a service economy. And services don’t have to make an overseas trip on a cargo ship.

You’ve heard about spa treatments. But that’s kinda played out. This holiday, how about a law treatment? Lawyers provide all sorts of services that people want. They can draft wills. They can help you close on a home. They can help you sue people you don’t like. Give the gift of litigation this holiday season.

From good ol’ Planet Money by NPR:
https://www.npr.org/2021/12/13/1063733799/planet-moneys-supply-chain-holiday-extravaganza

“Unfortunately almost 20, 30 years”

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The other day, I needed a taxi ride home. I wait in line at the airport taxi queue.

A yellow Prius pulls up. The driver is a large, quiet man who offers to stow my luggage in the trunk and closes the passenger door.

As I settle in, I notice the shotgun seat is pushed all the way up and angled to give maximum legroom for the back-right seat passenger. This reminds me of Hatim, the taxi driver from Sudan who drove me to Chicago airports in wee hours for many years to catch Monday red-eye flights. The muscles around my eyes still cringe upon recalling those ungodly 4:30am Monday wake-up alarms.

Back to the yellow Prius.

I tell the taxi driver my address and a nearby landmark and he sets out. No GPS, no phone. In fact his phone is tucked face-down into a cup holder, not mounted by the dashboard like most drivers do.

The ride down the highway is quiet.

It’s midnight and the city is asleep, string lights twinkling by buildings and no one walking outside. Once we near the landmark, I ask him to turn right on the next block.

“Taylor Avenue?” he asks.
Somehow, he knows the name of this residential street without referencing a map. I’m intrigued.

“How long have you been taxi driving?”

“Unfortunately, almost 20, 30 years.”

It’s the start of an interesting story that doesn’t finish this ride, but I hope continues in the future. He gives me his card and says to text him for future rides, any time of day or night.

A reliable, courteous driver who can give rides like Hatim “any time at all — 2am, 3am, 4am, any time OK!” and who knows the city like the back of his hand — now that’s a driver worth treasuring.

Undefined by Occupation

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For many years, I didn’t feel comfortable introducing myself by my job title. For example, “Hi, my name is ___, and I’m a technology consultant at PwC”. It just didn’t sit right with me. I think it’s because when I ask “Who am I?”, answering with my current job or occupation does not satisfy. In fact, I’ve had this question tucked into my front pocket since high school and more than a decade later, I still do not have an answer.

To some (I daresay, many), using one’s job to define identity happens naturally and instinctively. There are other significant things which can define identity too:

  • Does career define you?
  • The place you live (city, neighborhood, living situation)?
  • Your family, friends, significant other, coworkers?
  • Your culture, ethnic background, community, spirituality?
  • Your diet and what you eat?

It is possible for something to be important, but not necessarily define our life. I personally feel this way about my career. It’s important, I spend a large chunk of my life doing work, but if I got off my career track and found myself living in a yurt in the middle of the desert, I would still have my core essence and not feel lost or deeply troubled. I’m not exactly sure what comprises my core essence, but like my hidden 6-pack abs, “You can’t see ’em but they’re there”. (-Shaun T, Insanity).

A life of small moments

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Every moment matters – not just the big ones, but also the small ones, the seemingly irrelevant ones and the quiet ones. All of these moments add up to a life well lived.

Don’t take the presumably unimportant moments for granted. Look for them and treasure them instead. Listen for the words unspoken. Notice the quick glance. Feel the soft touch. The long-held hugs. The sadness. The graciousness. The in-between.

The magical sweet spots between tiny and massive moments are your life.

Don’t forget to pay attention to them. In the end, this is really all we have.

from 25 February: “A Year of Positive Thinking” by Cyndie Spiegel

From late September through November, I was in a rut of depression and on the verge of not wanting to live. It was instigated by one significant incident and then all of life’s challenges decided to piled on top. I asked myself, “What is the point of all this? To face wave after wave of endless challenges and struggles, in exchange for small, fleeting moments like a cappuccino on the deck, a slice of comedy or delicious cake, or gazing at the horizon with a dear friend? It’s not worth all the trouble.”

It has been a long journey, but I’m starting to climb out of this rut and see the sun behind the clouds. The sum of all of these small, fleeting moments in my life has built a stronger foundation for living than a few significant things could. It’s easy to forget these moments. It’s also hard to force myself to appreciate something in the moment. I love the view of the Cascade Mountains from my neighborhood, but I’ve grown so used to it over the past 2 years that I cannot force myself to feel awed anymore, not unless I’ve gone away for several days and return later.

However, the discrete historian in me has captured small, fleeting moments in subtle ways. Photos of small, interesting things like tiny turkey-tail mushrooms growing on a slender tree trunk, a Lima street dog napping in a funky position, a little girl chasing falling sakura blossoms into her hat. Journal entries noting these things and my reactions and feelings abouat them. Recounting with my husband how the carioca pigeons, dogs and people were all lapping agua de coco in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

I think it’s okay to not always appreciate all the small, fleeting moments in life. But know that there are ways to rekindle their spark, and like a mycelium network in the forest, they form a foundation that cannot be broken.

Museum Mentality

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There are those who believe that they own things;
Some people believe that they own cats –
Or other humans.
These people do not even own themselves.

Verse 29, “The Tao of Meow”

This portion of feline prose probes deep!

These days, I go for a walk in the morning, right before breakfast. As I walk along my very hilly neighborhood, I see periwinkle skies, mountains, evergreen trees and lakes in the distance. It’s breathtaking. But as much as I admire these views, I know I will not have these forever. I will likely move to somewhere more affordable without such views, or will not be seeing them when I’m pushing daisies. And that is okay with me. I have a museum mentality: “I admire this piece of art, I like it, but I do not need to bring it home with me.” I am content admiring the art while I meander the museum, and go home content with those memories. I think part of this stems from my belief in philosophies of Buddhism (let go, impermanence) and minimalism. Like an exotic vacation, we can fully enjoy something for a limited time, without wanting to keep that circumstance permanently.

Noodle Conundrum

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Every time I cook a dish using dried pasta or noodles, I face a conundrum: how much pasta do I add? I can’t eyeball this consistently, and the various shapes, sizes and densities of noodles make this difficult.

I once followed the serving size suggestion on a box of penne: it left me wanting more. I suspect pasta nutrition facts portray smaller, side-dish-like serving sizes to keep the calorie count attractively lower (and not scare us with the carbolific truth). What about one of those spaghetti portion rings, you ask? I don’t own one, as I don’t like one-use kitchen items. Measuring cups? Doesn’t work with long noodles.

Then I had an idea.

I eyeballed rice noodles for two servings of pho. I measured the dry weight using a scale – 160g. I prepared the pho, slurped up the gingery-cilantro deliciousness, and concluded that I wanted a little more noodles next time. I jotted down “175g” on a piece a paper and kept that with the rice noodles in the pantry. Next time I measured out 175g of dry noodles in the pot, and was happy with the serving size. I plan to create weight notes like this for each type of pasta or noodle I regularly use and adjust it through trial and error.

Using a scale in the kitchen isn’t really common for making pasta or noodle dishes. But it is among coffee snobs and bakers. Why not apply this to other types of cooking? Or even things outside of the kitchen, where consistency is desired and its hard to eyeball the measurements.

Happy noodling!

Fear in the Econoline

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It’s a cool but sunny day, and I’m reading Jason Zook’s “Own Your Weird” in my favorite nook – the balcony. Here’s a good nugget about “Fear” that I hope helps you conquer it and reach for your dreams. I’ve omitted a few sentences and added some personal commentary but the essence is still there.

”              In certain circumstances of my life, I’m happy that Fear exists. He keeps me from climbing six-foot ladders…Without Fear, I’d make some pretty bad decisions and end up doing stupidly dangerous stuff.

              But in my business life, Fear has to sit in the backseat. Actually, if my business is one of those white Ford Econoline vans that seats fourteen people, Fear sits way I the back and is forced to face out the back window. He doesn’t get to look forward, talk to anyone else in the van, and he damn sure doesn’t get any of the delicious homemade vegan chocolate chip cookies we’re snacking on. As time has gone on and as I’ve put more projects out into the world, my white Ford Econoline has stretched longer and longer. With all of my business ideas filling the seats, Fear is pushed farther and farther back, and his space in the back is now even smaller with even less room to move than before.

              Your metaphorical business automobile might be a Smart Car right now. It might feel like Fear is in the front with you, all up in your business.

              When ever Fear tries to take the wheel in your business, and especially when Fear tries to stop you from sticking your neck out and making an ask, simply consider this question: What’s the worst thing that could happen?

              Be 100 percent honest with yourself in your answer. Do you truly believe that launching the website for the business idea you have will leave you in the gutter, penniless, devoid of friends and family? Or is that just Fear driving your Smart Car again? “

(my thoughts): I also ask myself, What’s the best thing that could possibly happen? Use that as a beacon of hope, to pull myself forward towards my goals and dreams.

“If you don’t confront Fear and challenge what it’s telling you by testing your assumptions, your business Econoline will never leave the parking lot.”

(my addition): Fear may always be riding in the van, but I stuff it into the Igloo icebox every Korean household has in the back the trunk, and shut the lid tight. It doesn’t deserve to take up passenger space or get a view out the window!

“What I want you to remember is that you have so much more to gain from making an ask than you have to lose.

I just keep trying. Why?

I want what’s on the other side of asking more than I fear the rejection that comes from making an ask. And I want to succeed more than I’m afraid to fail.

Action:
I know deep down in my gut that you have something you’ve been meaning to ask someone for. I understand you’re afraid of the possible rejection, but trust me when I say that you won’t end up covered in scorpions, naked, and broadcasted to the entire world live for the everyone to point and laugh (what, that’s not your go-to worst-case scenario?) How can you own your weird a bit and make your ask more compelling or unique? Don’t drag your feet, just make your ask different and then send it out! Own it! “

Own

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I want to share this poem with you:

I look at the stars and want to touch them,
But I can’t jump that high.
They are not mine to possess.
I look at the toys scattered around my box;
I can touch these. I play with them all the time.
But they are not mine to possess.
I know they are not mine to possess,
Because when I knock one of them under a dresser,
I cannot retrieve it.
I must wait for a Nameless One to move the dresser
And kick it out,
And that may take months.

My purr of contentment – this is mine;
My tail standing straight up when I swagger – this is mine;
The way I curl ’round the legs of people – this is mine;
The joy of running at top speed toward the open door
At dinner time–
All this is mine.

It is mine because I express it,
Not because I possess it.
I am an a priori kitty.
You scratch my back — or I’ll scratch yours.

Verse 10, “The Tao of Meow” by Waldo Japussy

I love cats. Sometimes I feel like a cat as I lounge in a sunny window spot or on atop an electric blanket on my favorite chair. I do not have a cat, but I do possess an admiration and delight for them and that is enough for me. I may not own a little dream cottage with a garden, but what is mine is the love of gardening and enjoying a cozy, safe little space when it’s stormy.

Slow release

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I’ve been doing something called “coaching” the the past year. I pay for monthly sessions where a coach and I work on improving aspects of my marriage, health habits, and career goals so that I feel happier and more in love with life. It’s my biggest monthly expense after rent and food, and also a considerable investment of time to for the sessions and followup homework. Having a coach as an advice guru and accountability buddy is great, but the service doesn’t promise any quick fixes. There’s no guarantee I’ll attain my relationship or health goals, land a better job, or even be happier.

Why do this crazy thing?

As I was watering my mums, I realized that coaching is like a slow-release, natural/organic fertilizer. It takes a long time to notice the benefits, and I don’t feel them right away. Synthetic chemical fertilizers provide the same nutrients that, say composted steer manure can. However, synthetic fertilizers use salt as a vehicle to deliver the nutrients, the salt accumulates in the soil over the season and causes poor soil health plant damage within a few years.

Probably the most well-known of these to the home grower is Miracle-Gro: be it their Kool-Aid blue crystals that dissolve in the watering can, or in colorful bead forms. These are ubiquitous at garden centers and floral sections at supermarkets.

Organic fertilizers come in shocking forms too: crushed chicken feathers and bones, powdered blood and bone (of what?), mushroom compost, worm castings, cow manure, poultry manure, even bird and bat droppings (known as Guano, and highly valued. It’s a cause for near-war rife between Chile and Peru for a special island covered with sea-bird guano). Some are easier to work with than others. I found crushed chicken feathers and bones so powdery it’d fly away and I’d inevitably inhale it. But I find composted steer manure like rich soil – moist, not too clumpy, easy to shovel and top-dress the soil on balcony flower pots, and satisfying, rich color. Surprisingly not smelly either — I think that may be attributed to it being composted so it’s broken down.

Steer manure is a rich source of nitrogen and good for plant leaf growth. It releases nutrients in small quantities over a long time (over several months), as opposed to synthetics that can release a large dose abruptly and overwhelm a plant.

Let’s just say, in a good way, Ama La Vida coaching is like good steer manure. Its slow release has been doing me good with building natural positive mindsets, confidence, healthy habits, and productivity so that I enjoy living.